Porsche Macan Mule Spotted on the 'Ring

As the Porsche Macan gets closer to its international debut, yet another Porsche CUV prototype has been spotted in the wild. Our spy photographer caught this Porsche Macan lapping the Nürburgring as the automaker seeks to finalize tuning on what could possibly be the Macan Turbo.

Just about the only major difference between this Porsche Macan prototype and the last few we've caught are its wheels. Whereas the last Macan was wearing a set of Cayenne "Sport Edition" wheels, this prototype looks to be wearing Porsche's RS Spyder wheels as it laps the 'Ring. Peeking out from behind the new wheels are yellow brake calipers, which may signal that this Macan is fitted with Porsche's Ceramic Composite Brakes. Other than the new set of wheels, the Macan looks identical to the last prototype we spied, down to the headlight and taillight decals – which likely hide slimmed Panamera-style headlights up front, and slim, 911-inspired taillights in back.

The Porsche Macan, based on the Audi Q5, will launch as a four-door, with a two-door Range Rover Evoque-fighter possibly to follow. The Macan could be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 making up to 250 hp, with the Macan S getting the 2014 Panamera's 3.6-liter V-6 making around 310 hp. The Macan Turbo, like the prototype spied here at the Nürburgring, will probably be powered by the Panamera S' new 3.0-liter 420-hp twin-turbo V-6.

The Porsche Macan could debut as early as this November's L.A. auto show, with January 2014's Detroit auto show also a possibility.